Macro Flavor

LIFESTYLE SUGGESTIONS

5 PRACTICAL WAYS TO IMPROVE HEALTH

by Michael Bauce

“You cannot change the circumstances, the season, the wind, but you can change yourself. This is something you have charge of.” – Jim Rohn

Back in 1988, I had the opportunity to change my life for the better. It began by changing what I put into my mouth. Although I had given up meat a decade earlier, I started eating macrobiotically, as many of you know. Not only did I cut out all the processed vegan junk, dairy, eggs, sugar, etc…but I began building a firm foundation of whole, unprocessed foods. I began to learn to cook whole grains, vegetables, beans and sea vegetables. I realized it was up to me to make these changes last, since there was no restaurant that would sustain me and my future for too long. Looking back now, it became one of the most important decisions I would make in my lifetime.

During the next 33 years, my physical health improved dramatically. I wasn’t bogged down by colds or flu anymore. I had worked hard to strengthen myself and was feeling on-top-of-the-world! I experienced excellent health, allowing me to accomplish whatever I wanted to in life. I started to experience great joy in the simplest things of life including playing music, gardening, cooking, teaching children, spending time in forests, visiting beaches, rivers and immersing myself in nature.

Changing my diet offered me a golden opportunity to improve myself on other levels. I felt compelled to change the way I was thinking, feeling and expressing myself. It wasn’t enough to give up meat and potatoes, I wanted to stop thinking like meat and potatoes. I saw the importance of playing through life, in order to learn and transform…. and this was no different. This was going to be another fun experience, not hard work and suffering!

These lifestyle suggestions were born out of my personal journey and helped me change erroneous thought patterns, emotions, belief systems and any actions or deeds that were limiting me in my growth. They have helped me transmute fear and anxiety into the joy and happiness that is our birthright.

1. INCORPORATE A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Spiritual development is important in establishing peace and harmony in everyday life. When we incorporate a spiritual practice regularly, we can enrich our lives and improve our overall health. Spiritual practices can be performed alone or within a group. Praying every day and connecting with the spiritual power within is a most powerful and rewarding practice. Set aside 15 minutes or so every morning and create a sacred altar to begin. Lighting candles, burning Palo Santo and/or using vibrational tools (like singing bowls) help us to focus and reflect. Take a few deep breaths and center yourself to better connect with your ascended masters, guardian angels and spirit guides that begin to hover over your shoulder.

Simple rituals have always been important in human culture. Rituals help build confidence and are especially important for children. Rituals not only mark time, they create it. They help us better understand the importance of relationships and change. Rituals may include seasonal solstices, anniversaries, birthdays and life passages. Creating a shrine in your home is another way to connect with the spiritual world. Shrines keep us connected with our ancestors and remind us the importance of gratitude. Rituals remind us off the sacred journey that we are all on, providing stability and a sense of continuity.

2. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE

Spending time in Nature has a myriad of physical and mental benefits including lowering stress levels and blood pressure, enhancing immune system functioning, calming nervous system response, improving heart rate and improving self-esteem and confidence. Spending too much time in congested Cities, Office Buildings and stressful situations eventually depletes the body, mind and spirit. With Spring just around the corner, we have a good opportunity to get out into the forests, mountains, rivers, beaches and hiking paths to restore vitality and sense of awe and exuberance for the natural environment.

3. FEED YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT

Whether it’s music, art, dance, poetry or other artistic expression, feeding your creative spirit has a direct link to your well-being. Creative therapies are now being used to successfully treat dementia, mental illness and childhood Cancers. You can tap into your creative spirit at any age and see remarkable results. Senior citizens have seen improvements in cognitive function, especially speed and memory, after playing musical instruments. Dr. Frederick Tims, principal investigator for the Music Making And Wellness Research Project and professor and chair of Music Therapy at Michigan State University offered this:

“We feel strongly that abundant health benefits can be achieved by older adults who learn to make music in a supportive, socially enjoyable setting. We are just beginning to understand the positive effects of making music on our bodies and our physical health.” –

4. GET OUT AND MINGLE

The comfortable life that many seek in today’s stressful world includes bad habits that may lead to isolation, depression and bad health. Stepping out of the Comfort Zone may seem a bit risky at first, but many times will free the Spirit. Stepping out includes mingling with people who think, look and act differently than you or traveling to new destinations. Being slightly uncomfortable can be a good thing because it helps our potential to grow. We can always retreat to our Comfort Zone later and reflect on the adventure. Once we take that first step, it becomes easier to step out again and again. What’s important is to stay open to new experiences, despite perceptions of vulnerability and rejection. This method alone can transform your life and revive your Spirit.

5. LIVE THE SIMPLE LIFE OF A CHILD

By living the simple life of a child, we may begin to notice again, all that is wondrous and beautiful in the World. Many today have become jaded in life, unable to fully express emotions (laugh, cry), unable to trust others, unable to enjoy simple things, unable to let-go or have lost faith in the Universe. When we observe children, we notice that their purity and innocence allows them to enjoy the simplest of things: the smell of a Flower, the sight of a Clown, the sounds of Nature. They may cry, if you take away a toy, but will soon get over it and be happy again with a different toy. If we are willing to use Children as teachers, we can restore Happiness, Joy and Awe in our lives. A good way to begin is to spend some quality time around children and observe their behavior and sensibilities. If we can rediscover the child that resides inside of us all, we can begin to transmute anxiety, stress and isolation into joy, happiness and abundance.